A 6kW to 6.6kW solar system costs roughly $5,000 to $6,300 installed in most Australian capital cities in 2026, and that price already has the federal STC rebate built in, since Australian solar is quoted post discount, not pre discount. A 10kW system runs roughly $8,000 to $9,700 nationally. Perth, Adelaide and Canberra are consistently the cheapest cities to install in, Darwin and Hobart the most expensive.
The short version
- A 6kW to 6.6kW system costs roughly $5,000 to $6,300 installed in most capital cities in 2026, STC rebate already included.
- A 10kW system runs roughly $8,000 to $9,700, national average around $9,720.
- Perth, Adelaide and Canberra are consistently cheapest. Darwin and Hobart run 40 to 90 percent higher.
- The STC rebate on a 6.6kW system is typically worth $1,500 to $2,400, and shrinks a little every year on the way to 2030.
- Premium panel brands add 20 to 30 percent to the price for better efficiency and longer warranties.
Standard tier installed price by city, 2026
- Perth, WA: $5,070 for 6kW to 6.6kW, $8,460 for 10kW.
- Adelaide, SA: $5,350 for 6kW to 6.6kW, $8,130 for 10kW.
- Canberra, ACT: $5,490 for 6kW to 6.6kW, $8,140 for 10kW.
- Sydney, NSW: $5,570 for 6kW to 6.6kW, $8,480 for 10kW.
- Melbourne, VIC: $5,810 for 6kW to 6.6kW, $8,890 for 10kW.
- Brisbane, QLD: $6,170 for 6kW to 6.6kW, $9,320 for 10kW.
- Hobart, TAS: $7,280 for 6kW to 6.6kW, $11,430 for 10kW.
- Darwin, NT: $9,890 for 6kW to 6.6kW, $14,930 for 10kW.
- National average: $6,330 for 6kW to 6.6kW, $9,720 for 10kW.
What a premium system costs instead
Stepping up to premium panels and inverters (better warranties, higher efficiency brands) adds roughly 20 to 30 percent to the standard tier price. A premium 6kW to 6.6kW system runs from about $6,360 in Perth to $11,630 in Darwin, national average around $7,490. A premium 10kW system runs from about $9,760 in Canberra to $18,250 in Darwin, national average around $11,660.
What actually drives the price
Four things move the number. Wholesale panel and inverter costs are set globally, largely by gigawatt scale manufacturing in Asia, so there is a hard floor under any Australian quote. The Australian dollar exchange rate matters enough that most solar quotes are only valid for a week or two. The federal STC rebate is shrinking every year on its way to a legislated end in 2030, which is quietly pushing the net cost of solar up year on year even as panel prices themselves fall. Installer competition and quality also vary a lot: a handful of companies underprice by cutting corners on racking, cabling or workmanship, so the cheapest quote is not always the best value.
Budget, mid range and premium panels
Panel brand is the biggest single lever on price per watt. Budget tier panels such as Seraphim, Jinko or Trina run roughly 21 to 28 cents per watt in hardware cost. Mid tier brands such as Aiko sit around 31 cents per watt. Premium brands such as SunPower, Tindo or REC run 44 to 70 cents per watt, two to three times the budget tier, largely for efficiency, local manufacturing (Tindo is Australian made) and longer warranties.
How much of the price is the rebate
The STC discount on a standard 6.6kW system is typically worth $1,500 to $2,400, depending on your postcode's solar zone rating and the STC market price on the day, currently around $37 to $39 a certificate. Because the deeming period underlying that calculation counts down to the scheme's 2030 end date, the same system attracts a slightly smaller STC discount each year, which is one reason installed prices have crept upward even as hardware gets cheaper.
How many panels is a 6.6kW system
Most residential panels sold in Australia in 2026 are rated between 415 and 440 watts each, so a 6.6kW system is typically 15 to 16 panels. A 10kW system runs to around 23 to 24 panels, which is enough to need a genuinely large north or west facing roof section, not just a token array. Inverter size matters too: installers commonly pair a 6.6kW panel array with a 5kW inverter, since panels rarely hit their full rated output at once, and oversizing the panel array slightly against the inverter is normal and legal up to a set ratio.
Red flags in a cheap quote
A quote well below the ranges above is not automatically a bargain. Check that the panel and inverter brands are named, not just "Tier 1" (a finance industry rating, not a quality one). Check the installer is currently accredited with Solar Accreditation Australia, since accreditation lapses and unaccredited installs can jeopardise your STC claim entirely. Ask what warranty applies to the installation labour itself, separate from the panel and inverter manufacturer warranties, since a cheap install with no workmanship warranty is the most common way solar buyers get burned.
Is it worth waiting for prices to drop further?
Probably not, on the rebate alone. Hardware costs may keep falling, but the STC rebate is on a fixed downward schedule to zero in 2030, so the subsidy component of the price will keep shrinking regardless of what happens to panel manufacturing costs. If you are comparing quotes, get at least three, check the panel and inverter brand tier explicitly, and confirm the quoted price already reflects the STC discount rather than showing it as a separate line to be subtracted later.
Compare solar installers and panel brands on the WattsUp Find and Compare directory. Want the rebate mechanics in full? Read solar rebates and STCs explained, or work out whether a battery is worth adding.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a 6.6kW solar system cost in Australia?
Roughly $5,000 to $6,300 installed in most capital cities in 2026, after the federal STC rebate, which is already built into the quoted price. Perth, Adelaide and Canberra tend to be cheapest, Darwin and Hobart most expensive.
How much does a 10kW solar system cost?
Roughly $8,000 to $9,700 installed nationally for a standard tier system in 2026, rising to around $9,800 to $18,000 for a premium tier system depending on city.
Is the solar rebate already included in the quoted price?
Yes. Australian solar quotes are shown after the STC discount is applied, since installers claim the certificates and pass the value on as an upfront price reduction, not a separate rebate you claim yourself.
Why is solar more expensive in Darwin and Hobart?
Higher freight and installation costs, smaller local installer markets, and in Hobart's case a lower solar zone rating that reduces the STC discount relative to sunnier zones.
Will solar get cheaper or more expensive over time?
Hardware may keep falling in price, but the STC rebate itself is legislated to shrink to zero by 2030, so the net installed cost has been trending upward in recent years even as panels get cheaper to manufacture.